It might seem like artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere in today's world. Tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney are constantly in the news, while companies such as Google and Microsoft compete to create the next major step forward.

Recently, AI tools have passed the bar exam, the United States Medical Licensing Examination, and many others. However, that doesn't mean AI will be taking over from the rest of us any time soon.

As powerful as AI is, there are areas where it works well and those where it doesn't. To give just one example, we've been hearing for many years now that self-driving cars are "just around the corner."

With the flurry of recent accidents and lawsuits related to self-driving cars, if one is just around the corner, the best thing to do is duck out of its way. This is one instance where AI is probably 20 to 30 years away from fulfilling its potential.

But what about real estate?

In our industry, too, AI has its strengths and limitations:

• Past attempts to create "AI-driven" buying processes that might replace agents failed miserably
• At the same time, AI-driven real estate tools can make agents and brokers far more productive

As artificial intelligence and machine learning continue to develop, this dichotomy remains prevalent. Even today's most impressive "Large Language Models," like ChatGPT, can't respond effectively to a changing environment or do enough problem-solving to have client relationships as an agent does.

Still, AI is highly effective at parsing the information that goes into today's data-driven real estate process. Because of its ability to process millions of data points and identify relationships between them, it can uncover patterns invisible to even the best human analyst.

What AI Is Capable of Today – and What Might Never Be Possible

By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of AI, it becomes possible to more easily predict the ways it will affect the real estate industry over the next ten years. Nobody can foretell the future, but Delta has pioneered AI for real estate marketing, giving us some unique insights along the way.

Here are some reasons to be excited about the positive impact AI can have on real estate:

• It Will Be Easier Than Ever for Agents to Provide Accurate and Helpful Information
  Over their careers, experienced agents have spent thousands of hours researching "comps" to help their sellers price their property to sell. Likewise, hours go into understanding what a buyer's financing goals should be. These days, automated reports are ready in one click and AVM supports sellers in seconds.
  
  
• It Will Not Be Any Easier for Buyers or Sellers to "Go It Alone" Without an Agent
  Today's AI is certainly not autonomous, and it isn't prepared to do most of the things an agent does. But even as its capabilities expand, the legal landscape gives customers plenty of incentives to work with an agent. It's the easiest and safest way to ensure no problems with disclosures and other paperwork.
  
  
• Current AI Tools Can Already Multiply What an Individual Agent Is Capable of
  AI tools don't truly "understand" any of the data they work with. They don't read pages, for example, or evaluate relationships. But an AI-driven tool like DeltaNET can save you time every month through its ability to provide clarity. You can see exactly where your prospects, leads, and customers stand.
  
  
• We May Be 100 Years from an Autonomous AI Real Estate Agent
  Today's "Large Language Models" are just a tiny part of what needs to be in place for an AI to truly do a person's job. AI isn't waiting tables, for example, because machine vision isn't advanced enough. Even if the future brings us autonomous AI, they won't have the experience of having actually lived in a home.
  
  
• AI Will Enable Independent Agents to Get Started Faster than Ever
  Real estate has long been one of the most proactive industries in the modern world. Our professional community embraced online technology with innovations like MLS, and today's AI can leverage all the same resources to promote your business — including a real estate website and social media.
  
  
• With AI, You Can Build Your Entire Real Estate Brand More Easily
  There's good reason to be excited about artificial intelligence. But unless the dream comes to fruition and a true "artificial general intelligence" is created — think something like Star Trek's android Data — there's nothing for you to worry about. Today's agents have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

We might still be a century away from Data, but you can start using artificial intelligence to benefit your business today. The DeltaNET suite, complete with real estate marketing and productivity tools, is ready for you. Contact us to find out more or get started with the state of the art.